Portable and collapsible article of furniture



a w.. PUTMAN. PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 4, 1920.

1,378,651 3. Patented May 17, 1921.

Zforn FRANK WELLINGTON PUTMAN, or NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE ARTICLE 01 FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Application filed October 4, 1920. Serial No. 414,574.

provide a small package which can be conveniently stored in the seat box or in other parts of an automobile without inconvenience to the occupants thereof.

My primary object is to produce a portable article of furniture which may be employed as a table, stool, or toilet seat, and in which the top thereof comprises two hinged sections whose edges abut when the sections are spread, so that both of the sections will be arranged in thesame plane, said top being supported by foldable legs of a novel construction which firmly'brace the top when the article of furniture is set up so as to render the same rigid and stable.

A further object is the production of a portable collapsible article of furniture which includes a top constructed of hinged sections provided on their under faces with means for receiving the offset upper ends of the supporting legs, the latter constituting each a pair of pivotally connected members, slidable means engaging one of the members of each pair of legs for bringing the lower portions thereof toward each other, to add to the stability of the said legs, bringing the upper ends thereof into tighter interengagement with the receiving means on the under face of the top, and spreading the said legs to a position whereby material which may-pass through the center of the seat will not contact with the said legs.

The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operat'ive assemblage of parts, suchas is illustrated by the drawlngswhich accompany band which form part of this application.

In the drawings F lgure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement in its set up position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking toward the under face of the top.

F ig, 3 is a perspective View, of one pair of supporting legs.

Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the improvement.

While in the drawings I have illustrated my improvementin the nature of a toilet seat, it is to be understood that the same may be in the nature of a stool or table. When employed as a table, the top. of the latter may be of any desired length, and the supporting means therefor, constituting the legs, may be arranged 'at both ends of the table. Also, if desired, when the device is in the nature of a toilet seat, as shown by the drawings, the segmental top thereof may be suitably covered so that the same can be thus readily converted into a stool.

Referring'now to the drawings in detail, the top of my improved collapsible and con- .vertible article of furniture is indicated by the numeral 1 and comprises two similarly formedsemi-elliptical members 2-2. The confronting ends of the sections or members 2 are straight and abut, when the sections are brought to parallelism, so that both of the sections will be arranged in the same plane.

The sections 2, on their under faces, and

at their confronting ends are connected by.

hinges 3. This permits of the sections being folded against each other when not required for use. Each of the sections has on its under face, adjacent to its ends depending eyes or sockets 4.

As disclosed by the drawings, I employ legs for supporting the top. The legs, of course, may be of any desired length, so that the seat may be positioned at proper elevations to receive the occupant thereof. The legs are preferably in the nature of comparatively light metal bars of a suflicient. strength -to withstand the strain to which they are subjected. The legs are arranged in opposed pairs, and as each pair issimilarly constructed, the main'members, or bars of each pair of legs is indicated by the numeral 5. One of the bars 5 is arranged in lapping relation with respect to the other,

and the said bars are pivotally connected together, as at 6. The pivot is preferably arranged nearer the upper ends of the legs than the lower ends thereof. The lower 5 ends are formed with offset portions providing feet 7. The feet are directed outwardly with respect to the seat. The upper ends of the bars constituting the legs are given a half twist, as at 8 and from thence -are continued angularly to provide tongues.

,9, and these tongues are designed to be received in the respective eyes or sockets 4. The bore of the eyes or sockets is rectangular as are the tongues 9, so that the said tongues will frictionally engage with the walls of the said eyes or sockets.

To more effectively hold the tongues in the eyes or sockets of the top or seat 1, as well as to spread the lower ends of the said legs, the opposed pairs of legs are arranged tripodal by slipping a ring 10 around the foot portions of two of'the opposed legs of the respective pairs, and from thence passing the sameover the'bodies of the said legsections. The ring is of a size to cause the ends of the said leg sectionsto be brought very close together, if not in contacting engagement. This, of course, causes legs thus engaged to cause the fingers thereof to slightly turn in the sockets, and to be brought into greater frictional contact with the walls-of said sockets. 'In addition to this,the legs are effectively held against collapsing, and materiallystrengthened to withstand strain on the seat."-"Still., again, as above stated, the legs are-spread so that material passing between the sections 2 will not contact with the said legs. The legs may be readily separated from the seat'after the 40 removal ofthe ring 10. The legs may be folded against each other, and the sections 2 of the seat may be likewise swung against each other. Thus a comparatively small bundle is provided which may be readily inserted in the seat box, or may be conveniently carried in other parts of an automobile. The construction is extremely simple, can be cheaply manufactured, may be readily set up or collapsed, is strong and durable as well as thoroughly efiicient for the pur ses for which'it is devised.

. V aving thus described the invention, what claim, is 1. A portablearticle of furniture for the purpose set forth, including-a seat having elements on the bottom thereof, pivotally connected crossed legs having the1r upper ends-pnovidedwith means for engaging said elements,"andrmeansaengaging one of the opposed legs of the respective pairs of legs for forcing said legs together at the lower portions thereof and for spreading the upper portions of both pairs of legs for looking all of the legs with the elements of the seat. 1 i

2. In a portable article of furniture for the purpose set forth, a foldable seat having spaced pairs of sockets on the bottom thereof, a support for the seat comprising pairs of leg members, each pair being pivotally connected together and having their upper portions formed with angle tongues and their lower portions formed with angle feet, said tongues designed to be received in the sockets of the seat, and removable means engaging two of the oppositely disposed legs of the respective pairs of leg members for forcing the lower or foot portion of said tions in parallelism when the said ends arev brought into abutting engagement, a socket on the under face of the seat adjacent to the outer ends of each of the sections thereof, a support for the seat comprising opposed pairs of legs, each pair being pivotally connected, having its outer end offset to provide a foot and its inner end twisted and extended to provide a finger that is designed to be received one in the respective sockets of the seat. 4

4. A portable article of furniture, including a seat comprising two fiat ellipticalsections which are hingedly connected together and which, when their ends are in abutment have their upper and lower surfaces parallel, depending sockets arranged in opposed pairs adjacent the ends of the seat, sgpports, comprising legs for. the seat,-each 0 said legs having flat body portions which are=arranged in pairs and which are pivotally connected, said body portions havingtheir outer ends flanged to provide feet,

and twisted and extended at their inner ends to provide fingers designed to be received in the respective sockets, and meansremovably associated with two of the members of the opposed pairs cf legs for bringing'sai'd legs toward each other and providing a tripodal support.

, 5. A portable article of furniture for the purpose set forth, comprising a seat constructed of hinged sections foldable in one direction only, depending substantially rcthereof,'a support for the seat comprising.

opposed pairs of .leg members, each pair of leg members being pivotally' connected, having feetat the outerends thereof and angle tonguesatthe opposite ends, which latter are designed to be received inthe respective sockets of the seat, and a ring removably connected to and slidable upon two of the opposed members of each pair of legs,- whereby to bring the lower ends of the said legs pairs, arranging the same at an inward toward each other, as and for the purpose angle with respect to each other and looking set forth. the same together, and also causing the 10 6. In. a portable and foldable article of spreading of both pairs of legs at the upper 5 furniture, a top, removable legs supporting and seat receiving portions thereof.

the top disposed in opposed pairs, and In testimony WhereofI aflix my signature. means slidable on two legs of the opposed FRANK WELLINGTON PUTMAN. 

